Improvement in knitting-machines



5 Sheets-Sheetl. E. TIFFANY.

MINING-MACHINE. No.188,441. Patented March 1s, 1.877.

sweets-sheet z.'A

E. TIFFANY.

. MINING-MACHINE. No.188,441, Patented March`13,y1879'4 l ESVhYeets-Sheet 3. Y E. TIFFANY.

KNITTING-MACHINE. No. 188,441'l Patented March 131877.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5,

E. TIFFANY. KNITTING-MAGHIN.

No.188,441 Patented March 13;'1877.

illuL SHEET s.

ELI TIFFANY, OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES COOPER, OF SAME PLACE. f n

IMPROVEMENT IN KNITTI|\|ca-|vi-AcH|NEs.v

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,441, dated March 13, 1877; application tiled .my s, 1816.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, ELI TLFFANY, of the town of Bennington, in the county of Ben nington and State of Vermont, have invented an Improved Knitting-Machine, of which the following is a specification rlhis invention relates to that class of machines adapted to knit what are 'generally known as flat ribs,77 which ribs are used as cuffs for knit shirts and bottoms for drawers.

Upon Sheet l of the drawings is exhibited a front elevation of my machine. Sheet 2 shows, in Fig. 2, an elevation ofthe right end of the machine, and Fig. 3 an elevation of the left end thereof. Upon Sheet 3 is exhibited a plan View of the top of the machine. Upon Sheet 4, in Fig..5 is given a vertical cross-sectionof the machine, taken upon the line 1 l of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 exhibits another vertical section thereof, taken on lille 2 2 of Fig. 1. On Sheet 5, in Fig. 7, is shown a front elevation of the upper part of the machine, with the presser-bar rock-shaft S removed. Fig. S is a view ofthe sliding bar which actuates the draw-lever K, with its attachments. Fig. 9 is a view oi' the under side ot' the slur-bar, and -Fig. l0 is afview of oneY ot' the Vlatch-needles.

Reference is herein niade'to the said drawings and to the several letters of reference marked thereon, which form a'part of this specification. l

This machine is operated by rst casting onto the latch-needles, by means of attaching thereto a strip of knit cloth, a series of stitches, and appending to such cloth weights ortheir equivalents, to preserve the tension requisite for .the knitting to progress properly. The

machine is then started, the spring-needles be.

ing elevated, and the slur-bar, with threadguide attached, traverses the latch-needles, in its passage paying into the hooks of the latchneedles, as they are successively presentedl to the thread-guide therefor, the yarn for the formation of the initial course of stitches. After the thread-guide, in its forward movement, has passed clear of the needle next immediately. in its rear, such needle, by mechan-l ism (hereinafter more particularly described) provided therefor, is caused to recede, and by such recessive movementdraws the latch down multaneously withthis movement, thel yarn so fed in is, by the recessive movement of the latch-needles, drawn in loops around the vertil, cal spring-needles, passing alternately around the front of the stem of `a spring-needle, -and through the hook of a latch-needle, thusforming two adjacent ranks ot' stitches.A The-mechanism for drawing down the spring-needles then comes into play, and by such downward 4movement the rank of stitches so last formed thereon is drawn up under the barbs thereof. Upon tlie return of the spring-needles to their original elevated position, preparatory to' a repetition of their movement, the stitch recently so held under the barb is, by the retractile power exerted by the take-up mechanism, relatively drawn down' onto the stem or shank of the spring-needle, and'there re-k mains until the next depression of the springneedlebar. Next in order comes a n ew traverse of the slur-bar, with a performance of ther previously-described functions,.after which the needle-bar is depressed a certain portion of itsprescribed line ot action to a point where its further progress is momentarily arrestedvhile/ the presser-bar is brought tobear onvthe barbs of the spring-needles, for the purpose of .separating the old from the-new stitch,'and so as to allow the knocking-olf bar at same time to shove the old stitch up over and outside ofthe barb preparatory to its being finally cast oli'` 'by the knock-oft' bar at its next immediate movement, on the performance of which thev old or outside stitch remaining on and near the top of the spring-needle will be entirely y cast ott'. Slack courses are made by communicating to the latch-needles, bythe mechanism more particularly described hereinafter, an extra recessive movementpreceding the for-v mation of the range Vot' stitches which consti.-

tutes such slack course. Welts are formed by suspending the'action oi' the spring-needles,

Errea.

while three `or any desired number ot' courses of stitches have `been formed on the latchi needles, all ot' which are then at once cast olf andthe regula-r course of knitting resumed.

The points of invention especially elucidated in `thiscase may-be epitomized as follows ffirst, pivoting the'arms to which the needle-bar and knocking-over bar are respectively attached on a common shaft or` center, for the purpose of securing more perfect harmonyandconcert in their action second, investing the slurfbar, which actuates the latch-needles, upon which the stitches are primarily formed, with a regular reciprocating transverse movement, for the purpose ot' tightening or closing up the work when the knitting is regularly'progressing, and also with an additional backward movement, for the purpose ot' producir] g a slack` course; third, the means provided^ for regulatingjthe lead of the latch-opener and yarncarrier, so that the leading point of the latchopener shall be in its proper position with ref` erenceto the latch-needles in its forward or progressive movement, and with reference to the camu-"grooves otntheslnr-fbar, by which the latchfneedl'es 4are actuated; fourth, the use of one andthe same appliance, with its several attachments, for the purpose of throwing out i of'action thecains by which Vthe springneedle bar isatnategl, and of locking' or restraining from action' such needle-bar during the forma-Y tion of'lawelt.

1 Thfmechanisin .is mounted 'on' a suitable fraine,`A, and *motion isfcommunicated tothe main driving-shaft Ej through vthe driving# wheelB and train ot" gears Z, U, and D. Upon the left'end'of the shaft E is the bevel-"gear F, which en gages withand ac tuates the gear G, pon the lowerend of the'shaft of which is attached thedrlaiv-camH. Seen inplan in Fig. 8.) This cam` rotates between the trucks I I, f attached 'to the draw-bar J. Upon thisdrawf haris alug,which works in the slot v ot' the draw-lever is pivoted `to theffralne AMV. and. thrmlgih the Pinnen, L, @will nicates` amlon'gitndinal 'reciprocatilig "mot-'ef ment" to the, slur-bar l Upon the shaft E, and nearest @theftame;` .mi `tli sans" VV; vll-inta.@njmwttnwim. the fruks `@fe on' the levers `1)/ 1D", connectingrods C' 0', and radial leversrff A', tothelle'xtremities of which eedle-barI `jattachedcontrol and deteriard. movements 107i tlile spring; he upward or return movements,` eltected by thesprings d d. x @#5011 the Shaft E are arrange@ QUU, which', blv hsir Peculiar Shane! Vgurlction,with th'etrncks` d a, which are attached todepending arms `of the radialjlevers B' B. cbiiiinunivfit mbtiQn to.. and .reulw the movements of, theknocking-owierj bar` or platey; `which;"sattached t0 the front extremil" iin con `ties out', the arms B' B. The saidarmsA' `are lningfby"` their `rear t ends upon` thel. same shaftja'sfthearms B' B of the `knocking-over' b`ar,l`t`he twoba'rs thus having their motion upon a commonI axis, which renders their co-o'peration withl each other more perfect.` The down? ward. movement of the knocking-over bar y any suitable mechanical appliance. `The trucks clutches or shippingsprings areattached toa horizontal sliding bar,'b,` as seen in Eig. 7, which extends across the machine.` The shippers g g are of themselves elastic springs, and are so made because the shipping movement the trucks a, a do` not occur simultaneously.

been released from contactwith 'cams U U, which occurs after such cams have revolved to a point where,`by reason oflthat part thereof position withthe trucks, contact between the by the springs g` galone. Motion is commu-- the ratchet-wheel A", which, in "turn, is actu-` ated by lthe p'awl 6"', attachedto the upper 'During the formation ot'aweltit is`ess`en- Ltial thatthe'action ofthe springneedles should hesuspended during a` prescribed nnmher ot` courses, the knitting mean while proceedingfonL fthe latchneedles alone. p p p `the spring-needle bar is `attached the project#` ing lug or catch 0., and whentheneedle-` `b`ar is depressed by the camsto its` lowest `bar 11. Now, while the knitting of thejbody AVn. occupies a dormant position outsidethe n thereon is thrnstjbetwfeen projection *mand ;lug` c", and there renlainsnntil the cam on `revolve upon the" saine axis or stud. yIfhe may be effected either by gravity, a spring, or

a a are provided with a necking to receive the end of a spring shipping-clutch, g 'g. These i of sliding bar b and the actual shipping of `#The bar b" is rst thrown into position but the trucks do not follow suit until they have which is of lesser diameter comin glinto juxtak `two 'is destroyed, when the shippingof the. ltrucks is effected by theforce exerted on them l fend of the oscillating lever 19, as seen `in Fig.2. v.

To the' rear side of 1limit, the'flug c" is carried to a" position just opposite to, and beneath, thedependcnt stop m, and sufficiently below said stop `m` to per-- v mit the introduction therebetween offthepro-- 4jecting arm u, which is attached 'tofsliding t fot' the cuff' -is progressing," saidprojecting arm lpath ot' reciprocal travel of lug o; "but whenA the moment arrives for the formation.` ofa: svelt, the needle-bar havingf rst been drawn down, luge heingin positionhnderne'ath the l projectiom'na the sliding barmbUisbrought Ainto actionthrough theinfluence'fof thepllg on the ratchet-"Wheel AU, andi thereby prhje'ction a l ratchet A" hasfadvanced infitscourseso as f l `to releaseibar 11', and thus` leave spring 9 at n 1the other "end thereof free tothrust barb, with` farlnlnont of actionl The oscillating y t y ilve p depenusfor its moyernenfsjupon vlug j; ofrpin, f,i 0n the "backside ofthelgafr 1),"3` Vaud the retractilcforce exerted bythe spring qfattached toits lower end and tothe trarne "l y i Theleverj? ispivoted tolthetfrajme A1,"as w truck @revolves in a tixcdposition Aas regards lateral movement, but in constant Contactl with the edge or face ot' the cam WV; but the other truck, i, is axially movable, which axial movement is regulated by the clutch h, which is attached tothe sliding bar a, and"receives itsv progressive 'movement from the cam projection r of the ratchet-wheel A", and its opposite movement from the spring n, Figs. 3 and 7. The contours of both sides of the cam WV are coincident, with the exception of -a small portion ot' the periphery of the rightl side ot' cam W, upon which the truck i'runs, (shown at d, Fig. 6,) which is cutaway to admit ofthe shipping of truck z' from the posi-- tion seen in Fig. 1 to a position over or opposite the right-hand edge of the cam' W. This cutting away is made necessary from the fact that the trucks c and t" are ot' different diamo: ters. rlhe function performed by tl'ie'combination and (zo-operation ofthe cam \V, trucks o and i, arm G', fnlcrnm-shait Y, and arms H "H.' is to communicate transverse reciproca ting movements,'through thesliding boxes j" j", which guide the slurbar M, totheh'orizontallyworking latch-needles s s s. W'hen knitting the body of a culi' or any plain knitting', the truck c alone is used, and the movement communicated through it, by means of the intermediate mechanism, to the sliding guit-leeboxes j" is determined vby the shape ot' the cam, which is sho-wn at lV in Fig. 6, and` is a regu4 la-rly advancing and-receding movement. By. v

means of thisl nmvementthe stitches are drawn nphnd the fabric madetight Orloose, as may be desired. When Va slack course is vto be knit the truck t', by the mechanism before de'- scribed, is brought into` engagement with the cam \V, and, by 'reason-'of its greater diameter, the entire system ofthe slur-bar and? nee- Vdies is-carried and performs its functions a little farther back from the` work, thereby elongating the' loops and .making a slack course. The extent ofthis transverse movementY of theolslur-bar is adjustedand regulated by means ofl the set-sci-'ew-jill, 'which passes through thel upper part-of the arm H,and.

finds a seat or abutmentagainst the iear edge of the bed-plate N,asshowninFig. 6: The, cam X onthes-h'afthl, acting through thetluck b'npon the arm ,T ot the rock-s lnxft'b,l having'arms h ltf,feom'mimicatesbthe desired movements tothcfln'essen bar di, the function of which isjto depressvthe points of the barbs of the springneedles e cf e-,when such in edles, in process of lmitting,'arc drawn down by the action ofthe cumsV Vto-un elevation'where snclrpoints of the barbs', when'so depressed, will separate .thcfnewlyformed loop or stitch from the one last previously formed, (both stitches; still remaining on the `springfneedle,) and', vas a consequence,

the last-iormed or new'stitch is'retainedniuler Y the barb, and ythe Vpreviously-fbrmmlor oldr stitch is left in position, onfthe completion of the downward movement 'of thcfspringneodles, to be cast oit-the needles by the'action of the cast-oit or knocking-over bury.

other, asshown. finpositionin the machine the sha'nlisof the needles s s' syenter and work inthegrooves therein, and when, in movingffrom left torght,

The hedplate N is rmly securedv to the' top of the frame A, and is'transversely groovcdfor the reception of the latch-needles s s Is. Near each end of the bed-plate a 'transverse way is cnt, in which the sliding vguideboxes f" jf' work. As before described, these boxes have an intermittent transverse reciprocating movement, the progressive part otwhich' is produced by the action ot cam W, and the recessivevbythe action of the spring af', which is centrally attached to th'e bed-plateN, and has lateral arms,.which reachout'behind and impin'ge against the rear ends of the sliding guide-boxes, as seen at a, Figs'. 2, 3, and 4.

The latch-needles used in the machine are constructed as shown in Fig. 10, by bending up in the plane of the hook the rear portion ot' the wire which forms the needle, thus forming a shank, by the use'ot' which, in conjunction with the grooves .in the slurlbarllIl and guide-slots in the bed-plate N,t'he movemcnts'ofthe latch-needles are determinedand controlled. l, 1

Fig. 9 shows the under side of the slur-bar M, a top viewof which is seen in Fi .'4. This ibar is'v provided with Vlneans for giving to the latchneedlesl during each traversed-hereof two advancing and'two receding movements, the-extent uml-character of which may beseen by inspect-ion of the; position of the latch-nec dles i'n FiO. 4.' H t The position ot' the needles here shown is when' thev bar is moving froiuleft to right. For the purpose of giving to the ncedle's'p'rop- Ver and like movements during the `traverse ot' theV slur-bar in. both directional have con structed o'n thc under sideof the bar, ator near the center thereof', twolsetsl of parallel diagonal grooves or ways, mi, vau m", it, j thezgrooves of each 0E which pairs or sets are separated by the ixet'tabutmentom, and'having their'angles ot' inclination,- with respect to theed-ge of the slur-bar, opposedtoeach When theslur-bar is placed (presupposing'all Athe!latclimeedle shanksto be lying in ihat'part ofthe groove b'on the` A right of the cz'im-groovesJ-the abutment--o"j' impinges against the needle-sh'ankspthey are j l'o'i'cediin'to the. cam-.groove-m, andY traverse, that groove until struck byl the c amlface 1 "4, ywhen they are forced into the shortlrectilinear -groove K. `Here' they are caught bythe cam-face of the other abi'itmentM/,and-torced vby means thereof along. the canrgroove n,

into vthe shortrectilinear groove lm; thence',by means of the cani-facesm, intothemain groove b", and, in like manner, vice versa'for there`vr turn .movementof the slur-bar.l f ln order to secure a proper and accurate `roperation 'of the latch-openerandfee'd-guide Q., it is al'iparent that at` the end 1of each stroke ofthe slur-barthe position of the latch-opener should bc'lshilted so as to correspond with the changed positionofthe needle-Shanks in f their reversed or new pathot' travel through into operation, and `also the` mechanism for the diagonal grooves ofthe slurbar. The ac- 4putting inthe slack course. i tion of the needles which the thread-guide wheel Al is `perforated hasjnst passed is not the reverse ot' the ac-` of holes, as shown" p tion ot'those'it is just approaching,` and the of the pins t t.' i' p i inisinserted advance ot' the-needles during one movement in one ot' these holes1 one of the notches ofthe slurLbaris by a dii'erent groove fr'orn ratchet a certain distaneein rearofthe pi that which retracted them in the previous filled up, as seen "at D? in` Fig. 2, so as i movement; and adjustment thereto of the neutralize the action otthe pawl am.; Upoi" thread -guide and latch-opener is therefore fthe ratchet B/ is `a projeetion,C.', which lis` necessar To accomplish this purpose the designed to act upon thepin's t twhennnoved` latch-opener and feed-guideQ, are attached 'around into position todo soj. ""Atadefinite] toda head,` O, which is adapted to slide on the distance in rear of` `the projecting arm O( al slur-bar in adirection parallel with its lineof notch is filled up, as shownQat` EN; 1Fig.j2,` movement. 011 the slur-bar iserected a stud, which, when brought round intozposition, pr b', which protrudes througha slot, 19', in the vents the operationot" epawl 17V/.1` y' v t head O, the free or open portionot' which slot Thecarryingot'; eithe t t' l he ratchetsfor-n." coincides with the distance between the cenward so that its blindtooth maylpassfitspawl, p ters ofthe diagonal canrgrooves m and a", and the action ot' thelatter beirefestablished53"` measured on a line parallel withthe `line of is accomplishedbygthefactionoti t movement of said slur-bar. Upon the `top of otonenpo'na pin of theotherpor the head O are two pins or studs, a a', befor thearrangement of" these "two tween which oscillatesa dat spring, c'. l The such that no blindtoothof eitheryot th in" can .rearend of this spring is `rigidly fixed ina `be brought into position opposite `tl stud, P, erected on the `outer end ot' a. radial` the pawl, so thatthe pan'l willceaselto iropel t arm', g/, which is pivoted with acompressive the wheel, without theotllerwheel in' ts` spring at s onto the top ot` the slurbar. To ward movement has been advanced th.

the rear end ot* the caps hot"theguideboxos` its own blind tootl has `passedpthe "loo ff' are attached the two projectingzstops or` the pawl by whicl u p te pso"` abutments d d', against .which thestizldulwimpingesjust before the slur-bar lv\l[`-complet`e`s each traverse, andthe rcmainderof the mmeL` n ientottheslnr-bar necessary to eompleteits stroke b'eliire connnencing a return movement is just sniiicient to cause a. reversal oftheA positon ot' the radial arm gilby' thrusting iti` around in au opposite direction; sothutxtlie thrust of the spring 0"; instead ot' beingfeX-` ertedg'against one ot' the studs a', is transferred are teeth overtoand `is exerted againstflthe otherfpin Havingt nsdes aand, asa eonsequence,tlie`headO, yielding claii tothe force ot' the spring of; `ismovedgelong'i-` tudinallyjust the length otwthe" free-portion i of the stop 1)4, or intoposition For the; latch opener to cofoperat'e with the `latch#needles in deliveringltheyarn theretof t" t t A,

u t The needle-bar `a'isxpivoted at its estremi l tiesV tothe `fronttendslot'ithe `arms Af A', asl shown at tf, l1`i`g.` `5,San`d the vertical po tion` ot'tfthe needles is lmaintained@by the foi-ceci' i `the Spring @attached to thcfbottomedge ot?` the needlefhar, working againstfthe unile `side!` `of thelever or arm; A'. s f i `dll"s,arrangement of devicesfserresto keep theneedlesin a proper1uprightpositief` ,Wand `to permit theaneedlebaritofaccoxnmodateitf` sfcltl to the changed "position{ot'ithe` partsqrsulting from the `curiilin orllnove'inent of thefendio t p l p i u t The ratchet wheelslA 13,,togother` f with the leversplizliwls, and calnisiconll ed therewith, are `commonly known asthe end taclilcand throughmtheir' actiontheibllow-` t s ing results are attained," viz the length ot`- trucks araiandw o the web between the welts is determined, the during theiormatio mechanism for putting in the welt is brought het-wheel lli leave suc har ussA/.u l '5 ing bar bf, projection n', lug c" on needle-bar, In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed and dependent projection m, combined and my hand at Bennington, Vermont, this lst arranged substantiallypas specified. day of July, A. D. 1876.

5. The described mechanism Ifor shifting position of the latch-opener at each stroke of ELI TIFFANY. the. slur-bar, consisting of thesliding head ,0, stud b, slot p, oscillating arni'q', spring c', lWitnesses:` 5 and abutments d d', all arranged and com-A F. W.'GIFF0RD, bined substantially as set forth. M. B. SCOTT. 

